Mayor Mike introduced Melina Kanakarides, star of former TV Series Providence, as the ceremony narrator. Other stars in attendance included Nia Vardalos, from the huge indie success My Big, Fat Greek Wedding, who watched the ceremony from the audience but kept a low profile.

Gianna Angelopoulos- Daskalaki, spokesperson for the Athens Olympics came to the podium, explaining how the flame was transported by plane from Athens, Greece, to Athens Square Park. Gianna was followed by Fannie Palli-Petralia, the Alternate Minister of Culture of Greece.

While traditional Greek ballads were played, the ritual of lighting the flame began. Dennis Syntillas, founder of Athens Square Park, was the first to grab the newly-lit torch and was a crowd favorite. Mayor Bloomberg then called up Bob Beamon, a Queens-native Olympic gold-medalist who approached the podium and grasped the flame. Beamon was the first runner to carry the torch on its 32-mile/5-Borough tour across New York City which culminated at Times Square later in the day.

Outside the park on 30th Avenue, a packed crowd went wild when Mr. Beamon stood heroically with the torch raised straight in the air, the crowd's first glimpse of the flame. Beamon carried the torch down 30th Ave for a quarter of a mile, passing the torch to Gina Strachan, Jesse Owens' granddaughter, at the corner of Steinway and 30th Ave.

NYPD did a superb job at managing the crowd. Present in full force, with dogs and anti-terror gear, each side of 30th Avenue was barricaded to keep the runner's path clear. The event drew at least a couple of thousand new faces to Astoria, according to a spokesperson at the mayor's office. As expected, the day's events in Astoria were without incident.

"What is more fitting than Athens Square Park for such a tremendous event?" - George Delis

"The many nations of New York came together here today... Athens Square Park is a park without borders." - Wanda Radetti

"This historical moment made it possible to bring together people of different cultures, not unlike the Olympic Games themselves." - Gus Lambropoulos

Olympic Style Boxing by Punch was next on the list of performers. Punch, a non-profit organization in Astoria devoted to helping kids overcome personal obstacles through boxing and education, demonstrated the punching and wrestling skills of several of their members. Their leader, Frank Buchette, was on the mic narrating the performance and energizing the crowd.

Next up, the Ecuadorian International Center demonstrated a traditional Ecuadorian dance, the performers bravely bearing the heat under heavy iconic costumes, followed by Ballet Folklorico Panambi Vera by Centro Paraguay de New York, who featured a troop of Paraguain dancers in long flowing dresses giving a breathtaking and colorful performance.

Caterina Aquamarina from the Federation of Italian American Organizations, stunned the crowd with her amazing voice, her solo set ranging from traditional opera to Boccelli to Connie Francis.

A complete demonstration of martial arts and gymnast feats by the Loupakis Karate School followed. Backed by thundering dance beats, and forceful breaths by the performers, Tony and crew never let the energy drop, delivering one amazing stunt after another, while the crowd and heat were at their peak. Of special mention were the children students who demonstrated their determination and martial art mastery.

Then it was time for Jannah to mesmerize the audience some more. True to the style of Danse Orientale, her movements captivated all who watched, accompanied only by music and a steel sword that she balanced on her head.

Grigoris Maminakis and The Mikroksomos Ensemble, regulars to Athens Square Park and crowd favorites, played and sang Greek songs under the park's Greco pillars, while children and adults alike spontaneously broke into ceremonial dancing.

The afternoon's festivities concluded with music by Yoel Ben-Simhon's Sultana Ensemble. Complete with classical guitar, syncopated percussion and violin, the Ensemble set the musical stage for a beautiful dance by the Folklore Dancers of the Moroccan Association. Dressed in red, and as the sun began to tame down, the final act was the perfect dose of talent to bring the day's events to a close.

As the crowd dispersed and the sun went down, Athens Square Park slowly returned to normal. Except that this night, with the statues of Athena and Socrates reflecting the moonlight off their bronze enamel, the park and its neighborhood retired softly into New York City's history books.

This Event will be Televised on QPTV, Channel 57, Friday, July 2nd, 2004

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